Spoke-socket



KNO Model.)

J. WATSON.

SPOKE SOCKET.

No. 436,681. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

SNN l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

JOSEPH IVATSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

sPoKE-sooKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,681, dated September 16, 1890.

Application filed (fune 27, 1390. Serial No. 356,982. (No mocleh) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH WATSON, a citi* zen of the United States, residing at Oincin; nati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Spoke- JSocket, of which the following is a specificaion.

This invention has relation to spoke-sockets; and the objects of the invention 'are to provide a socket adapted to be applied to the outer ends of the spokes of wheels, either at the time of constructing the wheel or subsequently thereto, when the wheels become worn at the points of entrance of the spokes in the rims or fellies.

It is well known that the weakest points of a wheel, and the points most liable to give out or become worn, are the points of entrance of the spokes at 4their outer reduced or tenoned ends into the rims or fellies, and in order to strengthen these points and repair the Same without the expense of substituting a new spoke many devices have been invented and employed. All, however, coming under my observation are open to more or less objection for various reasons, and more especially for the reason that they are not adapted for a ready application to broken wheels by inexperienced persons, thus necessitating the employment of a practical wheelwright for the purpose of repairing the wheel and also the loss of use of the vehicle, to say nothing of the attending expense, inconvenience, dac.

By my invention, as will hereinafter appear and be particularly pointed out in the claims, it will be seen thatI provide a simple and convenient device, adapted to be applied either at the time of constructing the wheel or subsequently at the time of breakage, and in the latter instance with facility and by inexperienced hands,thus overcoming the many objections heretofore enumerated.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a spoke and a portion of a felly, the two being connected and provided with a socket constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse view; Fig. 3, an edge elevation of the wheel; Fig. l, a per- `spective of the two socket-sections, the same being disconnected and ready to be applied. Like numerals of reference indicate like Vparts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing my invention I construct the socket in two halves or sections, which, for thepurpose of convenience I will herein designate as the internal section l and the external section 2. Each of these sections is formed, preferably, of malleable iron, but may be formed of brass, either sheet or cast, or of other suitable metal.

The sections l and 2 comprise a central transversely-disposed rimeembracing portion 3, and above said portion a longitudinallydisposed semi-cylindrical spoke-embracing portion 4. The spoke-embracing portion 4 of the section is narrower than the felly or rim embracing portion 3, so that the latter extends beyond the former and at each side thereof. These two portions are connected by opposite webs 5, having screw-openings 6. The lower ends of the sections are each provided with inwardly-disposed flanges 7, said anges be ing located at a right angle to the portions 3, so that when said portions 3 embrace the sides of the fellies the flanges 7 embrace the periphery. As thus far described, the two sections are identical in their construction, and the only difference existing is in the for mation of the flanges 7 In the sectionlthis flange 7 is provided with a central angular recess 8, which leaves at opposite sides of the same triangular prongs 9. The opposite seca tion 2 has its flange reduced at opposite edges, forming a triangular single prong 10 of a form adapted to snugly iit in the recess 8, whereby said fianges interlock when assembled at the opposite sides of a felly. Both the prongs 9 and l0 are provided with 'screwA are also inserted through the openings ll, as shown at 11i, the central screw passing up into the spoke 13.

In a subsequent application of the "socket IOO the internal section is first applied, and in so doing the pointed prongs 9 have their ends entered between the rim or felly and the tire, and are driven snugly in position, so that they brace one-half of the felly and the spoke. The section 2 is next introduced into position in a similar manner, the triangular flange 10 taking into the recess 8 of the opposite flange and interlocking therewith. Binding-screws 15 are then inserted through the opening 6 and the two sections drawn snugly together and bound in position, thus forming a rigid connection between the spoke and rim. In this manner worn-out Wheels may be repaired and the connections between the spokes and the rim made stronger than ever, so that the full use of the Wheel is obtained.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination, with the felly and its spoke, of the sections l and 2,mounted at oppo site sides thereof,each of saidsections comprising a central transverse embracing curved portion and an upper semi-cylindrical reduced spoke-embracing portion, Webs connecting said portions and having opposite threaded openings, binding-screws passed through the perforations, the section l having at its lower end a right-angularly-disposed flange centrally recessed, as at 8, and forming opposite triangular prongs 9, and the section 2 having triangular portion or flange 10, disposed at a right angle to the remainder lof the section, and adapted to take into the recess in the flange of the opposite sections, perforations formed in the prongs, and screws inserted through the prongs into the felly and spoke, substantially as specified.

2. A spoke-socket formed in opposite sections or halves and adapted to be applied to the opposite sides of a rim or felly, each of said sections consisting of a felly-einbracin g portion, a spoke-embracing portion, and thel felly-einbracing portions terminating in flanges taking under the rim of the wheel and said iianges interlocking, substantially as speciiied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing,as,`

my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature iny presence of two witnesses.

- JOSEPH WATSON. Witnesses:

W. H. SARGENT, WILLIS M. KEMPER. 

